David Cunningham

ENZED HOSE DOCTOR CLOCKS UP 25 YEARS

Twenty-five years in the one job may seem like a lifetime for many but for Fremantle based ENZED® Hose Doctor, Dave Cunningham, when you love what you do and get rewarded well for doing it why would you want to do anything else.

Dave is one of six ENZED® Hose Doctors who operate out of the Fremantle ENZED® Service Centre and since buying his ENZED® franchise in 1985 he's developed a loyal customer base of some thirty clients and a business that turns over hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

WHY I BECAME A HOSE DOCTOR

“We were operating machinery that was
always blowing hydraulic hoses that we’d have
to fix ourselves. One day I started looking for
a contractor that specialised in doing
hydraulic repairs on-site and was surprised
to see that they were few and far between.

“During my search I came across an Ad in the
paper for an ENZED® Hose Doctor franchise
that was for sale – and it really got me
thinking, so after some lengthy
negotiations here I am
twenty-five years later
and I’ve never looked
back.” Dave said.

According to Dave, he still looks after the hose and fitting needs for eighteen customers that signed him up in year one – which speaks volumes about his single minded approach to customer service and his strong work ethic.

"I came across the ENZED® Hose Doctor concept quite by accident while working as a contract installer of air conditioning and industrial equipment.

"We were operating machinery that was always blowing hydraulic hoses that we'd have to fix ourselves. One day I started looking for a contractor that specialised in doing hydraulic repairs on-site and was surprised to see that they were few and far between.

"During my search I came across an Ad in the paper for an ENZED® Hose Doctor franchise in Osborne Park that was for sale – and it really got me thinking. After further investigation I warmed to the idea but thought it was too far away from where I lived. But as luck would have it there was a franchised territory available in Fremantle, so after some lengthy negotiations here I am twenty-five years later and I've never looked back.

"There's been a lot of changes since I became a Hose Doctor, the biggest being when ENZED® was bought by Parker Hannifin which gave us access to Parker's massive range of hoses and fittings that is arguably second to none when it comes to quality and diversity.

"By having access to Parker's full range of quality high pressure hoses and fittings my business really took off as it opened up new industries and the big equipment market that all required a wide range of different services.

"The unbeatable quality enabled me to deliver my customers a level of reliability not experienced previously which made them happy and more importantly kept them happy, so it just snowballed.

"I now work for a broad mix of customers that includes local, state and federal government departments, earthmoving and civil engineering contractors, crane operators, quarries, power generation companies, oil refineries and even a motor vehicle dealership.

"And while they all require hoses and fittings to be made up no two jobs in a day are ever the same and there's always something different happening.

"Even after so long in the job the best thing I like about being an ENZED® Hose Doctor is the freedom it gives me to get out and about and meet different people in different places without having a boss breathing down my neck.

"It also provides me with flexible work hours that you'd be hard pressed to find in other jobs and while I'm on call to my customers from 7am to 5pm Monday to Fridays, with some weekend work when required, if things are quiet I'll often take off at lunchtime and knock over those little jobs that tend to interrupt your weekends.

"It really is a great industry to work in and being such a niche business I get to work closely with the owner or boss of the business and get to build up a rapport with them. I also get to know their business and machinery inside out so I can stock what they need in my truck – and they know they can always rely on me if they need me.

"And the best part is that I get rewarded really well for it. My ENZED® Hose Doctor franchise lets me earn a healthy six figure income that provides me with the financial independence that many people only ever dream of.

"It's also a very secure business as it provides a vital service that is always in demand. Take the recent global financial crisis for example, for me it was my best year ever and things are still mad and buoyant.

"And unlike most businesses I don't have to have burden of having money tied up in stock or the worry of having to collect debts as my local ENZED® Service Centre carries all the stock and pay me every fortnight whether they've been paid or not, which means I can get on doing what I do best and that's looking after my customers.

"The ENZED® model gives ENZED® Hose Doctors a huge advantage over our competition as we are all self employed so we go the extra mile for our customers no matter if a job comes in close to knock-off time, or on the weekend.

"Plus being part of the ENZED® network means that all the Hose Doctors pull together. I've got five other Hose Doctors working out of the Fremantle Service Centre but we aren't in competition with each other, but rather all work together to assist each other if we are stretched for time, or when we take holidays.

"And this team work approach carries through to new Hose Doctors. I've shown six new Hose Doctors the ropes over the years and I've given them all the same tip – it's not rocket science, you just need a damn good work ethic to go with the best hoses and fittings on the market.

"As I've told them, at the end of the day anyone can buy hose and fittings and then go and install them but the difference with ENZED® is that we pride ourselves on our service. So if you're thinking about having your own business and you like talking to people, have a strong work ethic and are prepared to roll your sleeves up and put in some hard work you'll definitely reap what you sow with an ENZED® Hose Doctor franchise," Dave said.

According to ENZED® Marketing Specialist, Ryan Mandelson, a HOSE DOCTOR Franchise provides the financial independence and flexibility to spend time with your family or pursue your hobbies and anyone mechanically minded or is motivated and has a willingness to learn can do it.

"When new HOSE DOCTORS join ENZED® they are joining a franchise system with low start up cost and no inventory cost. New HOSE DOCTORS receive a subsidy on vehicle signage, free uniforms, business cards and 2 weeks TAFE Certified training at Parker Hannifin's manufacturing facility with accommodation and airfares included.

"Plus with ENZED you get full mentoring and support from other ENZEDERS and the ENZED® Service Centre owners who'll guide you in the right direction and help you find your feet.

"An ENZED HOSE DOCTOR mobile hose and fitting franchise provides a unique business opportunity with an internationally proven franchise system that's been operating in Australia since 1981, and backed by Parker Hannifin - the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies, with annual sales exceeding $10 billion, employing 62,000 people in 48 countries.